NCDC Releases March 2013 Global Climate Report

Temperatures in March 2013 compared to the 1981-2010 average. Map by NOAA Environmental Visualization Lab. Larger version available at NOAA Climate.gov.

According to NOAA scientists, the globally averaged temperature for March 2013 tied with 2006 as the 10th warmest March since record keeping began in 1880. It also marked the 37th consecutive March and 337th consecutive month with a global temperature above the 20th century average. The last below-average March temperature was March 1976 and the last below-average temperature for any month was February 1985.

Many areas of the world experienced higher-than-average monthly temperatures, including most of Africa and much of Asia. Far northeastern Canada, part of western Greenland, and sections of central Asia observed temperatures that were at least 9°F (5°C) above average. Meanwhile, most of Europe, northern Asia, central and western Canada, the central and eastern United States, and southern South America were notably cooler than average. Parts of northeastern Europe and western Russia observed temperatures that were at least 9°F (5°C) below average.

This monthly summary from NOAA's National Climatic Data Center is part of the suite of climate services NOAA provides to government, business, academia, and the public to support informed decision-making.